I posted earlier this summer. I've tested positive for hep c gen 1a . I had a biopsy and have stage 2 fibrosis. My viral loads are 40,000.I had a transfusion about 42 years ago. Think that's where I got it. I don't recall ever getting the typical hep symptoms . Although for the last year I've become more achey with arthritis type pain but some times its muscle pain. Most of the pain is on load bearing joints or ones that I've over used the day before. I wanted to get more answers and saw a new gp yesterday. He read my previous charts and found some blood work from last fall showing me I had an enlarged spleen,was anemic, and hypo glasemic. I had further tests that ruled out the cause of anemia. The last two not ruled out was a b12 deficientcy and cronic disease. I'm getting more blood work done today to get more answers. Most of this information was never disclosed to me by my previous doctor.

Hello Star, I just wanted to welcome you back...I'm not diagnosed with Hep C......Sorry about your diagnosis but at least you got one and now can take any steps to combat it.

You are finding out that in order to get any kind of information from the doc's you have to be very proactive in your healthcare..........getting educated and asking tons of questions. I was able to talk with my brother's doctor yesterday and he talked with me for about 10 minutes........and said that he would talk more today. I think he realized that I knew a thing or two about liver disease and that he couldn't snow me.

Thoughts and prayers............Pink GrandmaForum moderator-Hepatitis

When the going gets tough....the tough get going! Don't always know where I going but I get there anyways.

Welcome back, Starboard. I have hep C and cirrhosis, but aside from developing liver cancer (now cancer free for 2 yrs. and 1 1/2 mos.), I've only had fatigue. I do have arthritis and occasional muscle pain, but I really don't think it's connected to the hep C. The arthritic pain is from degenerative joint and disk disease, plus osteonecrosis which is a disease in which the bone in large joints (hips, shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles) dies and disintegrates. I have artificial hips as a result of that.

Hi Starboard....My husband has Hep C and Cirrhosis from a transfusion 42 years ago also. He showed no symptoms until about 5 years ago. Since then he has shown every symptom that is in the books. He complained of the pain he felt in the heals and knees, he could barely walk he was in so much pain. His spleen is also enlarged, which they tell me is "normal" for this disease. You are not alone, any questions or concerns someone here will help you....just ask.

My sister has some of those symptoms, they are some of the most common. She probably got Hep C from shooting up (drugs) twenty years ago. But she really didn't show the signs until about 3 years ago and for her things got bad fast but that is because she wouldn't stop drinking.

Sometimes I think it is really hard for doctors to decide what is the root cause of a problem. So many symptoms are common in multiple diseases.

hang in there and if you don't feel you are getting straight answers from your doctor check out another one. Find someone you feel you can trust.

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I've been diagnosed with HCV last summer and presently in my 36th week treatment (out of 48) (Pegasys). I'm sorry,but I don't have similar symptoms, but I have heard of other people with hepatitis, who complained about muscle pains (not joints). I hope you'll find more information soon.Take care. Betty.

Hi, Betty, and welcome to the forum! How are you doing on Pegasys? Any bad side effects? I suggest that you start a new topic (hit New Topic instead of Reply) to introduce yourself and what you are dealing with. This way, you can get more replies to your post. We don't have many patients here (most are too sick), so we really welcome you to our little corner of the world!